Container key



Oct. 20, 1953 J. BREEZE 2,656,065

CONTAINER KEY Filed Feb. 9, 1952 iframe? Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER KEY James Breeze, Stewart Manor, N. Y.

Application February 9, 1952, Serial No. 270,855

1 Claim.

This invention relates to keys with particular reference to the variety used in connection with the act of rolling up thin metallic articles.

Many useful products today appear on the market in dispensing tubes wherein the tube contents are extruded from the tube interior by applying pressure to the tu'be exterior. When the quantity of material remaining in a tube becomes depleted, it becomes necessary to increase the pressure application by rolling the tube together spirally beginning with the end remote from the dispensing end, no doubt a process familiar to most of the civilized World. To accomplish this rolling-up process by the use of ones hands alone, is quite awkward, thus the instant invention is offered as an efficient solution to the above problem.

Consequently, one of the objectives of this invention relates to the provision of a, key for rolling up a dispensing tube containing such materials as toothpaste, mucilage, paint, etc.

When a dispensing tube has been rolled up substantially, the label identifying the contents becomes obscured, causing confusion when the user has a plurality of such tubes with diierent contents. To eliminate such confusion, the key means are provided with identification means. Therefore, another important object of this invention relates to the provision of individual identification means for the said keys.

A further objective of this invention relates to the provision of an improved means for rolling up thin metallic covers such as occur in sardine cans and the like.

A still further objective of this invention relates to the provision of removable indentication means for keys of the above type.

Other objects and structural details will be apparent from the subjoined description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part of this specication and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 shows an application thereof to a paste dispensing tube.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the tube after being partially rolled up.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 shows the application of the modied form of the invention to the opening of a sardine can or the like.

Referring to the drawings, the pressure key I of Figure 1 is shown to comprise the operating handle II having the extension I2 provided With the slot I3 and formed peripherally on both sides of the slot with the teeth I4. Identification means I is provided on the key end remote from the handle I I.

In Figure 2, the key I0 is shown in operation in connection with paste dispensing tube I6. The end of the tube I'I is inserted into the slot I3 and the handle I.I is rotated, causing the tube I 0 to be rolled-up as shown in Figure 3. The teeth I4 bite into the tube exterior, thereby preventing slippage and resulting in a tightly wound tube. Obviously the amount of material extruded from the tube increases with the compactness of the rolled tube convolutions. Thus the teeth I4 ultimately result in the extrusion of more paste from the tube. The symbol I5 extending away from the tube is clearly visible whereby the tube contents can easily be identied.

A preferred key `form is depicted in Figure 4 wherein the key extension I8 is centrally formed with the slot I9 and the end 20 with the perforated slot 2| having the opening 22 for the insertion of the removable indentication means 23 having the symbol 24. In operation as seen in Figure 5, the starting tab 25 of the sardine can 26 is inserted into the slot I9 of the key I 8 and the handle 27 is rotated to wind up the cover 28 about the key I8. As in the preceding form the teeth 29 bite into the cover 28, preventing slippage whereby the manual effort expended is greatly reduced. Obviously the key I8 can be also used with dispensing tubes, the removable identification means in such an environment being extremely convenient. By merely inserting a symbol into the slot 2|, the particular product in the tube can easily be ascertained. Moreover, the same key can be used repeatedly with various pastes by merely changing the symbol.

It is desired that it be understood that numerous changes in shape, size and material may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A pressure key comprising an operating handle and a winding tool, said tool comprising an elongated shank having parallel side edges and an end face and a centrally located longitudinal slot between said edges, the said edges of the said shank being notched substantially throughout their length to form gripping means, and the shank end remote from said handle being provided with an opening in the said end face removably receiving identification means.

JAMES BREEZE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 951,132 Kinsey Mar. 8, 1910 1,219,706 Dahne Mar. 20, 1917 1,692,213 Kielberg Nov. 20, 1928 1,770,946 Rostiser July 22, 1930 2,047,250 Bardet July 14, 1936 2,258,610 Hothersall Oct. 14, 1941 2,326,191 Zabler Aug. 10, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 84,424 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1920 

